Andrea del Verrocchio: A greatest sculptor and painter of Renaissance Florence

In this video, Andrew Butterfield introduces Andrea del Verrocchio (c. 1435–1488). He is a mysterious person to many of us in the modern world. They often think of him as Leonardo's instructor and the master who was overshadowed and excelled by his pupil. However, Verrocchio was regarded as the greatest sculptor and painter of his generation, and this reputation persisted for at least 100 years. For example, when Lorenzo de Medici's father and uncle's tomb, designed by Verrocchio, was unveiled around 1472, it was hailed as one of the world's seven wonders. It was admired in this manner well into the sixteenth century and described as an achievement of innovative artistry and remarkable technical proficiency. The enormous statue of Christ and St. Thomas by Viroqua, unveiled in 1483, was praised as the most exquisite portrayal of Christ ever made and the most beautiful thing ever. It was held in this respect throughout the sixteenth century and admired for its exceptional beauty and for having been cast with unmatched craftsmanship.
Verrocchio's other sculptures were revolutionary, so when he created this statue of David, since Verrocchio was also a skilled bronze caster, unlike many other sculptors, and at a time when bronze casting was still in its infancy as it was being revived when he made this statue of David for the Medici in around 1465, it was the first bronze statue in the round to be made in Florence by the same artist.
The video explored the depth and breadth of Verrocchio's outstanding artistic talent by assembling almost 50 of his masterpieces in painting, sculpture, and drawing. A groundbreaking technical study of Verrocchio's materials and methods reveals three reasons he became someone we admire. It is the uniqueness of his concept and technique that characterizes his work. His extraordinary attention to detail is the second—his fidelity in observing and describing various details, particularly light-related elements. His brilliant portrayal of emotion and movement comes in third. These allow viewers to understand how his work in one art form inspired innovation in others.
Chapters:

03:35 Tomb of Piero and Giovanni de Medici
12:09 Verrocchio's Impact
15:30 Verrocchio's Early Life
26:52 Verrocchio. Monument for a Cardinal in Pistoia
40:39 Verrocchio's Use of Black Chalk
43:26 Painting on linen
45:15 Madonna and Child with a Cat